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Richmond, Va. – The Saint Francis men's basketball team kicks off its 2019-20 season at No. 25 Virginia Commonwealth on Tuesday night at the Siegel Center.

Scouting VCU

2018-19 Record: 25-8
Postseason: NCAA Tournament Round of 64
Starters Returning: 4
SFU Record in Series History: 2-2
Last Meeting: VCU 63 SFU 57 – Nov. 11, 2011 @ VCU
 
VCU returns four of its five starters from last, including its leading scorer and A-10 All-Conference First Team selection, Marcus Evans (13.6 ppg). The Rams were picked to win the Atlantic 10 this season and open the campaign ranked No. 25 in the AP Poll. Evans was joined by senior De'Riante Jenkins (11.3 ppg) and junior big man Marcus Santos-Silva (10.0 ppg, 7.4 rpg) on the A-10 Preseason all-Conference Team.. The Rams finished the 2018-19 season 25-8 and 16-2 in the Atlantic-10, winning the A-10 regular season title and receiving an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament where they fell in in the Round of 64 to UCF, 73-58.
 
Braxton Looking to Cement Legacy
 
Braxton has a chance to become the first 2,000 point, 1,000 rebound player in program history since Maurice Stokes in the 1950s. SFU's first NEC Player of the Year since Mike Iuzzolino in 1990-91, Braxton currently ranks in the top 10 in program history in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals with a full-year remaining. He tested the NBA waters this summer but elected to return in hopes of becoming the first repeat NEC Player of the Year since Charlie Jones in 1997-98. Braxton is the current active leader in career double-doubles with 37 and is second in rebounding. He has scored in double figures in 80 career games.
 
Don't Bet Against Blackmon
 
Redshirt senior Isaiah Blackmon (Charlotte, N.C./West Charlotte) has overcome two acl injuries and is looking to thrive in his final season. A 2016-17 NEC Second Team selection after leading the Red Flash in scoring, Blackmon has navigated injuries to once again establish himself as one of the top scorers in the conference. The 42nd 1,000 point scorer in school history and the 38th all-time scorer, Blackmon leads all-returning players in the NEC with a 42.6% career 3PT FG%, which is also 17th among all active DI returning players. He and Braxton are one of just two sets of NEC teammates to return as 1,000 point scorers. For his career, he has 11 games with 20 or more points.
 
Ending a Long Drought
 
Saint Francis will look to end a 60-year drought without a win over a nationally-ranked opponent when it takes on No. 25 VCU on Tuesday night. Saint Francis is just 2-57 all-time vs. the AP Top 25 with its last win coming vs. St. Bonaventure on Ja. 25, 1959. SFU played three ranked opponents last season, losing by an average of 33 points.
 
Krimmel Approaching 100
 
Head coach Rob Krimmel is three wins shy of career win No. 100 which would make him just the second coach in program history to reach the milestone. Krimmel won a combined 31 games in his first three seasons but has won 66 over the last four, an average of 16.5 per season.
 
Stewart's Waiver Granted
 
Redshirt sophomore Tyler Stewart (Silver Spring, Md./St. Andrew's Episcopal) was granted a waiver by the NCAA and will be eligible to play immediately after graduating from Binghamton. Stewart played in 24 games for the Bearcats as a freshman with eight starts and saw action in five games last season before his season was cut short to injury. He scored a career-high 14 points vs. New Hampshire and hit double figures in scoring 10 times.

Defense Wins Championships
 
SFU's built a reputation for its high-scoring offense but its success in 2018-19 was triggered by its defense. The Red Flash went 17-5 when holding its opposition under 50.0% from the field and just 1-10 when its opponent shot better than 50.0%. During its eight-game win streak in the middle of conference play, SFU held opponents to under 70 points in every game.
 
Consistency is Key
 
Saint Francis has won 35 league games since the start of the 2016-17 season, tops in the NEC. The Red Flash took a step forward in its pursuit of an elusive NEC title, winning the regular-season title last season for the first time since 1990-91.